What Chicago Experts are Saying

Chicago has so much more to offer than the Magnificent Mile, The Willis Tower, Wrigley Field and Cloud Gate (a.k.a. “The Bean”).
Lake Michigan is the crowning jewel of Chicago and there are many different ways to enjoy it apart from the well-known architectural boat tours. Active and adventurous visitors may be interested in taking sailing lessons. Several companies such as Sail Chicago, Go Sailing Chicago, 3rd Coast Cruising and Sloop Chicago offer them. There are also some great kayaking tours and classes on the lake and the Chicago River through www.kayakchicago.com.
Cycling is another great option for enjoying Chicago’s stunning lakefront trail. Bike and Roll Chicago (www.bikechicago.com) rents bikes at several different locations. If you are looking for a more local experience of exploring the different Chicago neighborhoods, Chicago Cycling Club (www.chicagocyclingclub.org) has a calendar of interesting social, touring and training rides you can attend for free.
Chicagoans live for summertime and outdoor fun. I love the free
“Chicago Summer Dance” held in Grant Park’s Spirit of Music Garden during weekends from June – September (www.chicagosummerdance.org). Millennium Park offers a free, weekly “Chicago Summer Film Series” from June – August, as well as free live music events and weekend workouts such as yoga and Pilates on the great lawn in front of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion (www.millenniumpark.org).
Northerly Island (the old Miegs Field airport) has been home to FirstMerit Bank Pavilion, an intimate, outdoor music venue since 2005. It is nestled between Lake Michigan and Burnham Harbor in the shadows of Soldier Field and Museum Campus (The Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum and Adler Planetarium). It attracts many big name musical acts.
“Jazzin’-at-The Shedd” is a fabulous event which takes place at The Shedd Aquarium on Wednesdays evenings from mid-June through early September. Admission is $18 and provides access to most of the The Shedd’s exhibits, as well as the live jazz bands performing on the split-level, outdoor terrace with views of Lake Michigan and fireworks compliments of Navy Pier.
Chicago is home to the blues. So, no trip here would be complete without a stop at Buddy Guy’s Legends in the South Loop. If you visit in January, Buddy is usually there every weekend performing with other musicians. If jazz, swing and be-bop are more your bag, check out The Green Mill in the Uptown neighborhood.
Chicago has a fabulous downtown theatre district. However, head over to The Second City for improv sketch comedy. It launched the careers of some of the most famous comedians, including John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd and Gilda Radner. Steppenwolf Theatre founded by Gary Sinise, Jeff Perry, Laurie Metcalf, John Malkovich and others has intense drama. Auditorium Theatre is celebrating 125 years in the business of concerts, dance and more. It also has the best acoustics of any venue in the city.
There is no shortage of incredible architecture in Chicago. Prairie Avenue in the South loop is an often overlooked historic district. It was once home to numerous millionaires and mansions during the 1880s. Clarke House, the oldest surviving building in Chicago is also located there. Schedule a walking tour at www.glessnerhouse.org. Oak Park is located just outside of the city. It has the largest collection of homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright as well as his studio. A walk through this beautiful neighborhood is a real treat. While there, you can also visit the Frank Lloyd Wright museum (www.flwright.org).
Enjoy “Sweet Home Chicago.”

Mmm…what food doesn't Chicago offer? The Windy City is a magical melting pot of tastes and flavors. From the steakhouses downtown and the famous Chicago-style deep dish pizza (whether you prefer Lou Malnatis, Girodanos, or Gino's East) to the pho shops on Argyle Street, tasty Indian delights up and down Devon Avenue, and authentic Mexican in Pilsen, this city has food from nearly every ethnicity. I would be remiss to not recommend some of my favorites: Try XOCO in River Nort...

Mmm…what food doesn't Chicago offer? The Windy City is a magical melting pot of tastes and flavors. From the steakhouses downtown and the famous Chicago-style deep dish pizza (whether you prefer Lou Malnatis, Girodanos, or Gino's East) to the pho shops on Argyle Street, tasty Indian delights up and down Devon Avenue, and authentic Mexican in Pilsen, this city has food from nearly every ethnicity. I would be remiss to not recommend some of my favorites: Try XOCO in River North to get a taste of chef Rick Bayless' amazing Mexican cuisine at reasonable prices. For coffee, stop into local favorite (now gone national), Intelligentsia for some single-origin goodness. Snag a table at the Girl & the Goat where Top Chef, Stephanie Izard, serves up amazing dishes like, yes, pig face.
Sunda is a cavernous, trendy spot with some great Asian cuisine (get the Brussels Sprouts Salad, trust me!) and fun people watching. And for some fun local spots, head into the neighborhoods and try the burgers at Kuma's, crab cakes at Fish Bar, the brunch at Twisted Spoke, brick-oven, Neapolitan pizza at Spacca Napoli, some saganaki (flaming cheese) on the fabulous rooftop of Pegasus in Greektown, and kick back on a sunny afternoon with a tacos and beer on the patio of Big Star. Bon Appétit!

"While the cheesy majesty of Chicago's famous deep dish pizza leaves the town divided (I am firmly in the Giordano's camp but many folk swear by Lou Malnati's buttercrust), Chicago's neighborhoods really come into their own with international cuisine from every corner of the globe. Look out for great local cafes like Uncommon Ground (with outlets on N Clark and Devon) and local breweries -- any Goose Island outpost is a good sign -- for a real flavor of the city."

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